Automatic clutch



y 21, 1935. K. E. LYMAN 2,001,931

I AUTOMATIC CLUTCH Filed Nov. 25, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l I LZ IgiWVEWYLZUF 262% e132 fofym aw.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n 5. a a a /r n Fm U hlF'l 7 y 2 x 7. .ILEI a\\\\\\\\\\.\\\\\\\M\\\\\\\ m a E 3 m% May 21, 1935 K. E. LYMAN AUTOMATICCLUTCH Filed Nov. 25, 1952 Patented May 21, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE AUTOMATIC CLUTCH Kenneth E. Lyman, Rockford, Ill.

Application November 25, 1932, Serial No. 644,228

3 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic clutches of the centrifugal type inwhich the clearance takeup between the friction clutch plates iseffected by the action of centrifugal members for causing the rotationof a camming clutch member which in turn shifts a cooperating cammedmember for actuating a plurality of clutch plate applying levers, andconcerns itself primarily with annular cushioning means between thecooperating cammed member and the said levers for more graduallyapplying the clutch plate. A further feature resides in theinterposition of what is commercially known as a one-way clutch betweenthe propelling shaft and the camming clutch member for starting theengine in the event that it stops while the vehicle is in motion.

The present invention constitutes improvements over the device shown inapplicant's copending application Serial No. 594,025, filed February 19,1932, for Automatic clutch.

Further novel and advantageous features will be pointed out as thedescription proceeds.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of partshereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred form of thisinvention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similarfeatures in the different views,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the automatic clutch involving thisinvention with the clutch plates disengaged and showing a part of atransmission housing in elevation.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken upon the line II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the parts in differentpositions and illustrating the friction clutch plates engaged.

Figure 4 is a view on line IVIV of Figure 3 looking upwardly.

The automatic clutch involving this invention is illustrated asinterposed between a propelling shaft I which may be the engine shaft ofan automotive vehicle and a driven shaft 2 which may be the transmissionshaft of such a vehicle, and which is shown extending into atransmission casing 3 and journalled in the engine shaft. The shaft I isillustrated as carrying the customary fly wheel 4.

A camming clutch member 5 is freely mounted upon a sleeve bearing 6splined upon the splined shaft 2. This clutch member has cam projections5a upon one edge. It will be noted that each projection 5a has a slopingor camming surface 5b and a substantially straight surface 50. Theportion of the clutch member 5 adjacent the engine shaft I has a steppedperiphery. A bearing ring I is positioned upon the outermost steppedportion and cooperates with a bearing ring 8 contacting the end of theshaft I for forming a raceway for thrust bearing balls 9. A retainingmember ID surrounds the bearing rings 1 and 8.

.The next outermost stepped portion of the camming member 5 forms abearing for clutch balls I I which are surrounded by a clutch drum I 2having a flange I3 bolted or secured to the fly wheel 4. It will benoted with reference to Figure 2 that this second stepped portion hasball depressions I4 and that the drum has pockets I5 and cam surfaces l6between the pockets producing what is commonly termed a one-way clutchstructure. When-the engine is running, the fly wheel will revolve in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 and the balls II will formno connection with the clutch member 5. However, if the engine shoulddie down when the vehicle is running under its own momentum, the clutchmember 5 will rotate relative to the drum I2 and cause the balls II. toform a connection with the drum I2 for starting the engine.

The camming clutch member 5 includes an annular member I6 which is shownas splined thereto forming a unitary structure. An annular plate I1,carrying a friction plate I8 uponeach side adjacent its outerperipheryextends in contact with one side of the member I6. An annularplate IS in contact with the other side of the member I6 is offsettoward the plate I1 and riveted or attached thereto forming a unitarystructure.

The plate H which may be termed a friction clutch member is yieldinglyconnected to the member I6 for limited rotative movement. To this end,one or more short slots 20 are formed in the member I6 and substantiallycorresponding slots 2| are formed in registry therewith in the plates I1and I 9. A coil spring 22 of sufficient diameter is inserted in theslots of the member I6 and plates I! and I9. With this construction, thefriction member Il may move relative to the member I6 by compressing thespring 22. Of course, when the resistance of the camming member 5 isovercome by the compression of the spring, it will also be forced torotate.

A casing 23 is attached to the fly wheel and within this casing there issupported a friction plate 24 actuated by centrifugal force for engagingthe friction member I! and pressing the same b forms an abutment forcoil springs 4|.

against the fly wheel. Centrifugal weights are utilized for thispurpose. While any suitable centrifugal weight may be used, a preferredform has been illustrated.

In referring to the drawings especially Figure 4, it will be observedthat a U-shaped bolt 25 is attached to the plate 24. Plate members 26are pivoted to the arms of the U-bolt as indicated at Each plate 26 hasan inwardly projecting stud 28 adapted when the plates 26 are swungupwardly to actuate a washer 29 slidably mounted upon a bolt 30extending inwardly from the casing and supporting a coil spring 3|between the casing and washer. A centrifugal weight is bolted betweenthe plates 26, the apertures 33 for the bolts being shown in Figures 1and 3. Any suitable number of such centrifugal weights may be employed.It will be obvious that as the centrifugal weight flies outwardly duringrotation of the fly wheel, the pins 28 will act against the washer 29which serves as a yielding fulcrum and the pivot points 21 will moveinwardly causing the friction plate 24 to press the friction member l'lagainst the fly wheel and eliminating the clearance between the plates.The friction member I I will now rotate with the fly wheel and thecamming member 5 will rotate therewith through the yielding connectionpreviously set forth. As the camming member 5 rotates the slopingsurface 5b on certain of the projections So will engage certain slopingsurfaces 34 on cam projections 35 extending from one edge of a cammedmember 35 splined upon the shaft 2, and cause the cammed member 35 toslide. toward the right upon said shaft.

The cammed member 35 is provided with a shoulder 36 against which isseated a ball race ring 31. Spaced from the ball race ring 31, there isa second ,ball race ring 38 .with thrust bearing balls 39 between suchrings. An annular Z-shaped metal member 40 surrounds this thrustbearing, one flange 40a thereof engaging the outer side of the bearingring 38, while the other flange An L-shaped metal member 42 surroundsthe Z- shaped member 40. The L-shaped member 42 has its foot or flange42a in opposed relation to the flange 40a for engaging the opposite endsof the coil springs 4|. The members 40 and 42 form in effect an annularspring retainer.

Levers 43 (only one of which is shown) are' springs 4| and cause themember 42 to actuate the levers. 43 for gradually increasing thefriction of the friction member I! in connection with the fly wheel andplate 24. When rotation of the clutch ceases or decreases to the extentthat the centrifugal weights become inactive, the friction plate- 24 isadapted to be withdrawn for rendering the friction clutch idle bysprings 46 attached to said plate and to said casing.

The friction plate 24, however, may also be released at any time bymanually operable means consisting of a sleeve 41 slidable on thebearing of the transmission housing. A ball thrust bearing 48 consistingof rings 48m and 481) with rolling elements 49 therebetween is carriedby said sleeve. An arm 50 on a foot pedal shaft 5| is adapted to slidethe sleeve 41 'to the left until the race ring 481) engages the inclinedends of the levers 43 and actuates the same toward the left. Thisoperation also shifts the cammed member 35 to the left. It will beappreciated that during the shifting movements of the cammed member 35or the sleeve 41 no friction will be engendered against such parts dueto the fact that there is relative rotation between the different racerings of each ball bearing.

The operation of the clutch depends upon the starting of the engineshaft. As soon as the engine shaft starts to rotate carrying the flywheel 4 and casing 23 therewith, the centrifugal weights will be thrownoutwardly for taking up the clearance in the friction clutch, andinitiating the frictional resistance for causing the friction member I!to revolve with the fly wheel while certain slippage may occur. Thisfrictional resistance will be sufficient to cause rotation of thecamming member 5 for shifting the cammed member .35 for graduallyincreasing the friction of the friction clutch.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details ofconstruction may be varied through a wide range without departing fromthe principles of this invention, and I therefore, do not purposelimiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by theprior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an automatic clutch, a driving shaft having a fly wheel, afriction device for engaging said fly wheel, a casing attached to saidfly wheel, a friction plate engaging said friction device, said platehaving a socket, a lever pivoted to said casing and extending into saidsocket, a driven member, a sleeve slidable upon said driven member, anannular yielding member between the free end of said lever and sleeve,and means operable upon rotation of said driving shaft for shifting saidsleeve.

2. In a friction clutch, a driving member, a driven member, frictionmeans for connecting said members, a lever for pressing against saidfriction means, a slidable member on the driven member, an annularcushion between said lever and slidable member, and means'rotatable withsaid driving member for causing said slidable member to compress saidcushion and actuate said lever.

3. In a friction clutch, a driving shaft-having a fly wheel, a drivenshaft, a friction member for'engaging said fly wheel, a plate forpressing against said friction member and having a socket, a casing, alever pivoted to said casing and extending into said socket, a slidablesleeve upon the driven shaft, an annular yielding device between saidsleeve and lever, and means adapted to rotate with said driving shaftwhen connected thereto for sliding said sleeve.

KENNETH E. LYMAN.

